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Ultra-low-noise tunnel junction dc SQUID

Journal Article · · Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.90946· OSTI ID:5776639

The design, fabrication, and noise properties of an ultra-low-noise tunnel junction dc SQUID (superconducting quantum interference device) are presented. The two resistively shunted Pb-alloy tunnel junctions are each 3.6 ..mu..m diam. The SQUID has an inductance L of approx. =11 pH, a critical current per junction, I/sub 0/ of approx. =100 ..mu..A, and a resistance per shunt R of approx. =2 ..cap omega... At 2.3 K, eI/sub 0/Rapprox. =k/sub B/T, and simple theory predicts that the minimum intrinsic energy sensitivity should be approx. =2h. The actual minimum value of the measured high-frequency (70 kHz) flux noise at 4.2 K is phi/sub n/=1.3 x 10/sup -7/phi/sub 0/ Hz/sup -1/2/. This corresponds to an intrinsic energy sensitivity, phi/sup 2//sub n//2L, of 3.2 x 10/sup -33/ J Hz/sup -1/ or 5h. Lowering the bath temperature to 1.8 K gave no improvement in performance.

Research Organization:
IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598
OSTI ID:
5776639
Journal Information:
Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 35:10; ISSN APPLA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English